1

Founding Machine Learning Engineer Jobs in Houston, TX

Partner with executive leadership, engineering, product, and data science teams to ensure AI ... Solid proficiency in Python and deep learning frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow) * Experience ...

Senior AI Engineer

Houston, TX · On-site

$99K - $137K/yr

Design, develop, and deploy advanced AI and machine learning models to solve complex business ... Mentor junior engineers and provide technical guidance on AI best practices, model development, and ...

Deep knowledge of supervised learning, unsupervised learning, feature engineering, model selection ... Familiar with machine learning curricula and common challenges such as understanding bias-variance ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Founding Machine Learning Engineer information

See Houston, TX salary details

$30.1K

$123K

$184.8K

How much do founding machine learning engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for founding machine learning engineer in Houston, TX is $122,971.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $96,900.00 and $148,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Founding Machine Learning Engineer?

A Founding Machine Learning Engineer is one of the first technical team members at a startup who specializes in designing, building, and deploying machine learning systems. This role involves working closely with the founders to set the technical direction, build core AI products, and establish best practices for data and model development. In addition to hands-on coding and experimentation, a Founding Machine Learning Engineer often influences product decisions and helps shape the company's engineering culture. The role typically requires a blend of deep technical expertise, startup agility, and a willingness to tackle both high-level strategy and low-level engineering tasks.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

A founding machine learning engineer at top tech companies or successful startups can earn $500,000 or more annually, often including base salary, bonuses, and equity. Such roles typically require advanced skills in deep learning, data modeling, and experience with large-scale systems, along with a strong track record of innovation and leadership.

What are some unique challenges and expectations for a Founding Machine Learning Engineer in an early-stage startup?

As a Founding Machine Learning Engineer, you'll face the unique challenge of building the company's machine learning infrastructure from the ground up, often with limited resources and rapidly evolving requirements. You'll be expected to wear many hats, from designing and deploying models to setting up data pipelines and collaborating closely with product and engineering teams. Your role will also involve making critical decisions about technology stacks and best practices that will shape the company's technical direction. Additionally, you'll have significant influence on the company's culture and have ample opportunities for growth as the team expands.

What is a founding ML engineer?

A founding machine learning engineer is a key technical team member involved in building and developing the company's initial machine learning systems and infrastructure. They typically have strong skills in programming, data modeling, and deploying ML models, often working closely with product teams during the startup or early-stage company formation. This role requires a combination of technical expertise and entrepreneurial mindset to shape the company's AI capabilities from the ground up.

Is a machine learning engineer still in demand?

Yes, machine learning engineers are in high demand due to the increasing adoption of AI and data-driven solutions across industries. They are sought after for their skills in algorithms, programming, and tools like Python and TensorFlow, with job growth expected to continue as AI applications expand.

Which 5 jobs will survive AI?

Founding Machine Learning Engineers are likely to continue playing a crucial role as AI advances, focusing on developing and deploying complex models that require specialized skills in programming, data science, and system architecture. Jobs that involve high levels of creativity, strategic decision-making, and human interaction—such as healthcare professionals, educators, skilled trades, and roles in management—are also expected to persist despite AI automation. These positions typically require emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and adaptability that AI cannot easily replicate.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Founding Machine Learning Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Founding Machine Learning Engineer, you need deep expertise in machine learning algorithms, software engineering, and data science, often supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with tools such as Python, TensorFlow or PyTorch, cloud platforms, and experience deploying ML models in production are typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, entrepreneurial mindset, and excellent communication skills set standout candidates apart. These skills and qualities are vital for driving innovation, building scalable solutions from scratch, and collaborating within a fast-paced startup environment.
What job categories do people searching Founding Machine Learning Engineer jobs in Houston, TX look for? The top searched job categories for Founding Machine Learning Engineer jobs in Houston, TX are:
What cities near Houston, TX are hiring for Founding Machine Learning Engineer jobs? Cities near Houston, TX with the most Founding Machine Learning Engineer job openings:
Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Engineer

Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Engineer

Soni Resources

Houston, TX • On-site

$100/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 7 days ago


Job description

The AI/ML Engineer is responsible for designing, building, and deploying intelligent systems that enable predictive insights, automation, and smarter decision-making across the enterprise. This individual operates at the intersection of data science, software engineering, and applied research - translating complex business problems into scalable machine learning solutions that deliver measurable impact.
Key Responsibilities:
  • Develop, train, and optimize machine learning and deep learning models using Python, R, TensorFlow, and PyTorch.
  • Partner with product, engineering, and data teams to identify opportunities where AI can drive efficiency or innovation.
  • Build end-to-end ML pipelines, from data ingestion and feature engineering to model deployment and monitoring.
  • Ensure responsible AI practices through bias detection, model explainability, and continuous model retraining.
  • Stay current on emerging trends in generative AI, NLP, and computer vision to drive future capabilities.

Ideal Background:
  • 5-10 years of experience in applied AI/ML
  • Strong foundation in statistics, algorithms, and data engineering.
  • Proven success deploying models in production environments (e.g., AWS Sagemaker, Azure ML).
  • Advanced degree in Computer Science, Data Science, or related field preferred.

Soni Resources logo

About Soni Resources

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Soni is a premier staffing & recruitment company that is disrupting the human capital management space. Headquartered in New York, Soni has presence in 23 markets across the United States. We support each professional relationship with a cutting-edge approach, industry-leading insights, and a human touch. We are trusted to help companies and individuals tackle their challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. We are minority-owned, and diversity & inclusion is in our DNA. We are committed to creating environments where people are empowered to be their authentic selves.

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

New York, NY, US